High frequency display device with movable gas filled ball moving through a transparent tube



Feb. 28, 1967 J ou o men FREQUENCY DISPLAY DEVICE WITH MOVABLE GAS FILLED BALL MOVING THROUGH A TRANSPARENT TUBE Filed March 29 1965 D m T Q M O V V 4% N L .IL 3/ w E v ,W/MV

United States Patent 3,307,060 HIGH FREQUENCY DISPLAY DEVICE WITH MOV- ABLE GAS FELLED BALL MOVING THROUGH A TRANSPARENT TUBE Joseph L. Molidor, 108 N. Lincoln, Round Lake, Ill. 60023 Filed Mar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 443,538 6 Claims. (Cl. 313--1) This invention relates to a display device of the type wherein illuminated elements such as balls or similar objects traverse a transparent tube to provide a novel activated type of display.

One object of the invention is to provide a display device wherein a transparent tube is provided and hollow bodies are transported along the tube, the hollow bodies being filled with suitable gases and an electrical field being provided along the tube so that the gases glow because of the electrical field through which they pass.

Another object is to provide a display device of the neon light type wherein illuminated balls (of different colors if desired) traverse a transparent tube thus providing an interesting motion type of display to be used in connection with signs, merchandise show windows and the like.

Still another object is to provide means for causing motion of the hollow bodies through the transparent tube by discharging air into the tube.

A further object is to provide means for returning the hollow bodies from the outlet end of the tube to the inlet end thereof, thus circulating them in a continuous manner.

Still a further object is to provide the transparent tube in the form of a closed loop through which the hollow bodies circulate, the entire length of the loop if desired being provided with an electrical field for continuous illumination of the hollow bodies as they traverse the loop.

An additional object is to provide timing means for spacing the hollow bodies substantially equally as they are circulated through the closed loop.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of by display device, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a display device embodying my invention and showing it associated with a panel of a sign or the like;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and includes an electro-diagrammatic view of a source of energization for an electrical field used in connection with my display device;

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view of a modified form of the display tube, and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of my display device suitable to outline merchandise show windows or the like.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral to indicate a panel suitable for signs or other display purposes, having top and bottom flanges 12 and 14 terminating in an upper front flange 16 and a lower front flange 18. A transparent tube 20 of glass, Plexiglas, Lucite or the like is provided which spans the flanges 12 and 14 as shown in FIG. 1. A hollow body 32 such as thin walled transparent plastic ball is adapted to traverse the tube 20. For this purpose, a nozzle 24 is provided extending from a fan housing 26 in which a blower rotor 28 is mounted for rotation. The rotor 28 may be rotated by an electric motor or the like 30 having a geared down pulley 29.

The hollow body 32 is made to glow by providing it with a gas fill such as neon and/ or other gases such as argon, helium, krypton, radon, xenon or the like, an electrical field of high tension current being provided as by means of electrodes 40 and 42 provided with high tension current supplied by a high tension secondary coil 44 of a step-up transformer 46 having a primary coil 48. The current from the coil 44 may be in the order of several hundred or several thousand volts depending on the gas or mixture of gases used as well known in the neon sign art. Dilferent gases or mixture of gases may be used to produce difierent colors such as red, green, blue and so on.

Means is provided for recirculating the ball 32 such as a return tube 22 which may be formed of metal, the nozzle 24 being suitably connected therewith and the return tube at a point adjacent the nozzle being provided with discharge perforation 34 so there can be a circulation of air and thereby circulation of the ball 32 (or several balls 32 if desired). The return tube 22 may be provided with a branch 50 to introduce the balls 32 into the circulating system, a cover 52 being provided therefor.

In order to substantially equally space the balls in their traversal of the tube 20 when there are more than one ball, a timing wheel 36 may be provided operated by a belt drive 38 from the motor 30. Accordingly, the balls 32 are periodical-1y released from the timing wheel as it rotates and enter the circulating air stream to be propelled upwardly through the transparent tube 20, being illuminated as they pass through the tube, thus providing a spectacular action display for attracting attention to a sign or advertising matter on the panel 10. The flanges 12, 14, 16 and 18 serve to enclose the operating mechanism from view so that only the tube 20 and the balls 32 circulating therethrough are in sight.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tube 20 (indicated 20 herein) may be modified to have the electrodes 40 and 42 imbedded in the wall thereof instead of being exposed as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the display system wherein the tube 20 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a tube 20 forming a rectangular (or other shape) for the purpose of framing a sign, merchandise display or the like. By having the electrodes 40* and 42 extend throughout the entire length of the tube 20 the balls 32 are illuminated throughout their entire path of travel.

From the foregoing specification it will be obvious that I have provided a comparatively simple illuminated display device of the action type wherein moving illuminated bodies are propelled by a simple arangement of air blower. Illumination is eiiected by passing hollow transparent bodies filled with suitable gas through an electric field formed by a pair of electrodes extending longitudinally of a transparent tube through which the hollow bodies are propelled.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my display device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover 'by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a display device of the character disclosed, a transparent tube, a hollow transparent body movable longitudinal-1y thereof, electrodes extending longitudinally of said tube and adapted to be charged with high tension current to create an electrical field between said electrodes, said hollow body being provided with a fill of gas which glows when in such electrical field, and means for discharging air into said tube to cause said hollow body to move along the tube.

2. A display device according to claim 1 wherein means is pnovided to return said hollow body from the outlet end of said tube to the inlet end thereof.

3. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said tube is in the form of a closed loop and said means for discharging air circulates said hollow body through said closed loop.

4. A display device according to claim 3 wherein said electrodes extend throughout the extent of said closed loop.

5. A display device according to claim 3 wherein said closed loop is provided with a branch adapted to receive hollow bodies and introduce them into said closed loop.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,142,633 1/1939 Dey et al 315248 X 2,169,409 8/1939 Dey 315-248 X 2,525,624 10/1950 Stahl 313-201 X 3,076,914 2/1963 Meahl 313-234 X JAMES W. LAWRENCE, Primary Examiner.

C. R. CAMPBELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DISPLAY DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, A TRANSPARENT TUBE, A HOLLOW TRANSPARENT BODY MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, ELECTRODES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TUBE AND ADAPTED TO BE CHARGED WITH HIGH TENSION CURRENT TO CREATE AN ELECTRICAL FIELD BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES, SAID HOLLOW BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH A FILL OF GAS WHICH GLOWS WHEN IN SUCH ELECTRICAL FIELD, AND MEANS 